Garage-door-operating mechanism



. 3 SHEETS-*SHEET l.

(1f/benny;

' 1,111,923. H. f. GUTH.

GARAGE DOOR OPERATING IVLECHANISM. FILED MAY 19| 192i.

H. F. GUTH. GARAGE 000A OPERATING MEcHAAHsM.

FILED MAY I9. |921. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Jam 9, 1923 IlIAIALQZ.,

@www/Am MMI@ WMMA Jan., 9, 1923., LMLQZ 'H. F. 3u-TH. y

GARAGE DOOR OPERATING IVHCHAI'UISM.4

FILED MAY 19. 1921. s'sH'EETs-snfz a.

ticularly desirable in eliminating,Y exhaustingr kmanual effort, and it is also desirable in vthat i it eliminates the necessity on the part of the driver of vacating hisvehiele prior to the operating` of the doors.

To effect the operation of the doors 1, the present. invention employs a plurality of vertically spaced brackets 6, Which serve to provide rotatable mountings for a pair of vertically disposed rock shafts 7. lThese shafts have their upper and lower ends journaled Within the bracketsl and are located cont-iguouS to the hinged edges of said doors, in View ofthe fact that the doors 1 are of the outwardly opening variety, the shafts 7 are consequently located on the inner sides thereof, so as to be out of the way of said doors when the-latter are being opened or closed. One of the shafts 7 has its lower end provided With'a iXed crank 8, which is adapted to be os'cillated by means of mechanism operated from the spaced trip structurev 9, hereinafter to be more fully described. At this point it will sutiice to say, however, that upon the operation of the trip structure the crank 8 will be oscillated so as to roek the shaft connected therewith. This movement 0n the part of the shaft carrying the crank 8 is transmitted to the other or companion shaft by providino the upper ends of said shafts with outwardly dive crank arms 10.v Thev outer ends of these arms are provided with sWiveled studs 11, to which are secured the outer ends of links 12. The 4innerends of these links are connected at 13 with a counterbalanced lever let, which is pivotally mounted as at 15 upon the wall 5 or its equivalent. It will be observed that the ends of the links 12 are etpiallj/y spaced from the pivot 15, and it will therefore be manifest that by. reason of this construction, the rotation of one of the rock shafts will impart corresponding rotation to the other of said shafts, but that through the instrumentality of thelever 14., the said shafts will loe rotated in opposite directions.

Carried by the shafts 7 are fixed horn/ontally extending rocker arms 16. These arms are located contiguous to the upper and lower edges of the doors 1, and extend substantially across the full width of said doors, the outer or free ends of the arms being; disposed to pass loosely through slots novided in fixed brackets 17, which are secured to the inner faces of the doors.l lt will be apiliarent that when the shafts 7 are rotated, movement will be imparted to the rocker arm 1G; in such manner that the latter will be caused to press upon the bracket 17 so as to result in the opening or closing of the doors, in accordance With the direction in which the Shafts 7 vare rotated. By looselyv mounting' the outer ends of the arms 16 in the brackets 17, it will be apparent that the difference he tween the pivotal mountings of the doors and the arms lo will he compensated l'or, thus permitting; of the necessary relative movement between said arms and doors without undue friction or binding'. AUso, by extendingv the outer ends of the arm lo' through the openings provided in the bracket 1i', the doors will be caused to move in unison with the arms.

In this instance the frame, Il is equipped alongits upper and lower edges with the stop strips 1S, which carry resilient blocks 19, against which the doors are adapted to press when the same are in their closed positions, the said blocks 19 serving to cushion or arrest the in *ard movement on the part of the doors and to prevent undue hangingy or jarring thereof. (lne ol the doors carries the usual vertically disposed strip 20, which overlies, in the ordinary manner, the outer edge of the adjacent door, so :is to provide :i weatherproof joint therelietween, and lo pre vent surreptitious operation olf the actueling' means for the doors. The door carijvin;r the strip 2O has its inner surface provided with Hxed brackets 21, which carry pivoted latch members 22, the latter beinpr normally disposed to engage with the vertical walls of the strips 1S. These latch nicml'iers are further formed to include offset arms which are disposed for engagemem'iwith the outer ends ofthe arnis 1G, and the slots within the brackets 17 are sufficiently elongated to permit the arms 1G to oscillate the latch meinbers prior to imparting; swinging: moveient to the doors. Thus, when the rock shafts 7 are initially actuated, the arms 'IG will press into ei'igrairement with the actuat ingr ends ofthe latch members 2Q, thus effecting the release of the latter from door locking' cooperation with the strips 1S. lhen this operation has been elllen-.ted the said rocker arms are then forced into engagement with the outer ends of the doors to ell'ect their forced opening'. lt will be ol'iserved that the lever 'Ilz has its upper end efpiipped with an adjustable weight :Z2-l. which serves as a countcrbalaine for the actuatingr elements for the doors 1 in permitting said doors to be easily opened or closed.

In order to effect automatic operation on the part of the rock shafts 7, and the nicchanisin controlled thereby, the trip structure 9 is provided. This trip structure is adapted to be iricrmanently situated at :i desired position located in advance or to the Afront of the doors 1, so that the saine may he engaged by an approachingf vehicle to permit of desired automatic openingv of the doors. To this end the trip structure contemplates the provision of a concrete or other block 24 which is situated in alignment with the wheeled surfaces 25 approaching the doorway Li. Embedded in thc block 21- are suitable bearings 26, in which is journaled a transversely extendingr trip member QT.

El (l l ll riminese This inen'iber consists in this instance oil a bail shaped portion 28, located above the block ll and normally adapterfl to assume the substantially vertical position shown The bail portieri 23S terminates in an angru larly extending.,` roch shaft 29, which has its outer end journaled in a bearing provided upon. a vertical standard 231. This standard is adapted to be suitably embedded within a concrete or other similar base 3Q, in order that said standard. may be rigidly and lirrnly maintained in a lined operating; position. The outer end or the roel: shaft 29 is provided with. a crank arm 33, to the outer end or which is pivotally connected the lower end olr an actuating' link fill. This linlr extends upwardly and is adapted to slidably pass through a sleeve whichis pivotally mounted as at 36 upon a vertically movable pitman rod 87, which slidably mounted. in bearings provided in conjunction with the base The linlr 34; has its upper portion. equipped with spaced and lined stop collars 38, between which and the opposite ends of the sleeve 35 are positioned. coil springs 39. Thus it will be inaniiest 'that when the bail portion el the trip inem.- ber is engaged by the wheel. ot a vehicle, 'the said bail portion will move until the saine is parallel with the ground. This results in imparting substantially a one-quan 'ter turn to the shalt 9,9, which results in oscillating the arm 33 so as to cause up*A ward movement on the part et the link 3d. Then, bv reason oit' the lowermost et the springs 39, which. will become compressed by the upward movement ot the link, niotion will. be imparted to the rod. 37 so as 'to elli'ect its elevation. Similarly, itt a vchicle moving outwardly from the doorway, the rock shalt 29 will be oscillated in the opposite direction, so as to torce the link downwardly and thence through the medium oit the uppermost oit the springs Bil to impart downward movement to the pit- .inan 37.

The lower end oli the pitman 37 is arranged to travel. within a chamber 4l() pro vided in the base 82, and has its extreme lower end terminated in an otlset linger ll, which is disposed in. vertically spaced relan tion 'from an adjustable linger i-2 carried by the lower end ol? the rod 37. These :lingers are adapted. to cooperate with and to have conlined therebetween. a `stud all provided. upon the outer end olf a crank arm lll, which latter is carried, 'in turn, by the extreme outer end oli a longitudinally entendiup,M shat't llli. This shalt has its outer end snitably `journaled in connection with the base Bil, and is adapted to entend from said base longitudinally toward the doorway l and to terminate immediately within the wall oili the building in which said doorway is situated. lt will be understoodfthat the shalt thrall to be promay be suitably enclosed so li'ects o?? the elements and tected troni the c.

i also to be out oit the way and to thus avoid oll'eringa an objectionable appearance. The inner end of the shalt is equipped with. a crank arin de, which has outer end connested by means of a linlr ell' with the crank lllanil stly, upon vertical movement on the part of the pitinan rod 3l, one oit the outer of the lingers ll and fri/ will. cooperate with the crank arin /lfl so as to eiilect oseillation. on the part et the shalt 4th. This movement results iinlraitingj similar oscillation to the cranlrarin lle, and tl ence by means or the link lli' to one ot the roel; shalts 'l'. By this apparent that the doors may be readily opened or closed in a substantially autoniatic manner, and that the construction will eliminate manual operations in of j ci.r;ting the doors. llt will be observed that by the use of the springs 39, all shock or jar upon he opera-thug` mecha.. ism will he absorbed, by such springs. Thus, in the event that the trip structure is quickly engaged by an approaching vehicle, the said t ip nieinber may be move i i a considerable distance before moveiru-iinJ will he imparted to the pitman rod. This 'feature enables the niechanisrn to be employed lor relatively extent il periods olf time without becoininp unduly out of order. To inaintaintl'ie bail portion. 28 el the trip ineinber in an upright position, the said shalt 29` is provided with a crank. arm 4&9, to which connected the lower end et a spring 50, said sprin leading up to a hook 5l. carried by the standard 1" i linee the siririnp; 50 is normally under HJ.. tension, it follows that theibail member will.

lie maintained. in its upright position. Also,

a weight 52 may be cinp eyed Y.tor counterbalancing purpi es in coiunction th the rock shait llt it is desired to llocla. the mechanism against operation, this 'feature may be accomplished by providing the up per end ol? the pitnian 37 with a cranlr are. 53. This arm is adapted to oscillate over a lined plate 54e provided. upon the upper end of the standard 3l. The plate 5l; and the arni are provided with registering; openings through which the hasp oi l 55 may be passed to hold the arm relation with. said. plate. lily this construction it will. be possible, by inanipulatin the arm 53 to roel( the pitiuan 37 so that the Vlingers dl and l2 will be oscillated to assuine positions out ol? eiuraaeinent with the stud 4118, and may be held in such positions by the application oit the padlock, this 'lean ture permits the trip structure to he 'freely operated without in any way operating; the gate or door structure.

ln view et the 'tor oinpj description, taken in coniunctio` the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent- 'that the construction it will be` lll Ell

llll

l lll present invention provides an operating mechenism for gutes, doors or other snnilar closure members which will be elliective end efiicient for the purpose et enz-daling such closure members to be autom tically opened and closed by means of structure located more or less remotely With respee thereto. lt will be observe-d thnt the strueture described is essentially simple in construction and in operatiom und in View o1 the results accomplished is devoid or' undue complication. lt Will be observed that the operating mechanism throughout is properly eeunterba-lanced with regard to the leed carried se that the vconstruction will be capebleot' being smoothly and easily operated with t-he'epplication et but a minimum of ell'eetive power. Also, by means of the crunk construction employed ziiljustments may be made in the relative positions and throw ot the various parts of the operatingmechanism so as to iro Jeri i adnit the letter to the peculiar requirements of the door constrimtion employed m conjunction therewith. lt will of course be understood that the invention is not limited in its scope to the particu# ler gate or door operating mechanism set forth. For instance, shown in Figure a vertically rolling flexible steel door 56 has been utilized. rlhis door as usuel, includes an operating shaft 57 around which the sections oli the door may be `vound or unWeund so as to open or close the doorway 58. To effect-the rotation oit the shaft 57, the inner endr of the shaft l5 is provided with a bcveled sector 59, which is ada ited Vto engage with e pinion 60 mounted on e. suitablf jour nailed eonntershatt 6l. This counterslmitt carries n sprocket (32, over 'which chain G3 is passed7 the said chain being also trained overa smaller sprocket eli mounted upon the shaft '57; li/lanii'estly, by rotation of the 45 motion, by means el.: the gearing 59 and 60, Will be imparted to the chain thus causing the rotation et the shaft 57 and the consequent operation et' the door 5G.

In Figure 8a slightlyA modified Vform of trip structure is provided. ln this portionlar construction the pitma. rod 37 has been eliminated, and the shaft rois located above the* trip member 2?' instead et beneath it. As shown, the. standard Ill, is suitably supported to receive itor rotation one en:1

l ot the shaft 45, and that seid shalt in this instance is provided with J. crunk o6, to which vthe sleeve is siviveled, d 'sleeve being' adapted lto slidably receive the link SELL, which carries the shock absorbing springs It will be apparent in this construction that when the trip member is operated, the crank arm 66 will be oscillated so 21s to rotate the shaft 45 directly, thus eliminating the use of the pitman rod and other underlying structure'.

` I' lieve illustrated in thev drawings de-v scribed herein the cons(ructionr-a which :it the present time seein to h, fl; preferable ezniiiodiments ot my invention, but .i do not desire to limit .myself to the cmutruciions speciicully shown and described. hut couteinplute the benefit ot all `vuriations oi' construction and modilicntions thcrci'iif which express the spirit oi my invention.

'What is cluinied is:

l. lin closure operating` mechanism, :i trip structure including;` a ieitically dispoucdV standard, :i trip ineniber rotiitnbijf support,- cd in conjunction n'ithf :i [stan-dard. a crunk erm connected vi'ith 1' id trip member, :in upwardly extending; rod civ-"necied with seid crank erin, a closure opor-ding structure includinpl` :i sleeve cupubic ci receiving suid red, :ind shock aiuorbingr springs situzitcd upon sind rod and cooperzztim with suid sleeve.

2. ln closure opera".iiigigv mechanism. :i irip structure includingi an u-tcil.lnt u roch sh li'. u. vehicle enggztgjing cniaiK uncut provided upon one end ot :za'd :finit :i crunk :erin

formed with the other c d ot scid shul't. .ineens for lgournaline; .sind shalt, un upwnrdly extending; rod heruml .its louer end conected with seid crunk arm. closure operetinn miens including? r; movable inciuhci. :iy device sivircled upon one cud oi seid nicm- Ler und cuiizihle ot idahly i' civiii seid rod. :Lid shock z isorbing springs czuricd by seid rod :2nd conincd between ixel shutm nts "rovided upon said rod :ind the op posite sides oit said device.

. lin closure perutiiuf inc -vninism. :in os- Voiv rock sluit't. n wheel engugi'inu' cn- 'oeincnt provided upon one end olf .seid i", a crunk nieiber termed noon the cr end ot said chaiii'li, :i countorlziluucingf Weight i'iXe-d to said shut't, un upwardly extending` rod connected with the outer cud ol said crank arm.y :i movable closure operatingr nember. u device .siviveled to .said

member und capable ot :didn-,bly Vcoeivingr seid rod7 und shock absorbing: springs positioncd between said device and .fixed :duits ments provided upon seid rock shui't.

ln closure opcrutiun mecimnisiu. :l trip structure includii. osciilzioi'jf rovi; shell, an actuating; culot 'd erneut formed with sul shzii't, u` throw member i'otzitubic with said. shutt, :i rod hziiinu' its lowcr cud fixed to said throw member. u vcriiculiy uiovfdlle pit-umn rod` n sleevericu'nzziod upon .said pitnuin rod und cupuhle oi" slidulri); recoivingyj seid upwardly motoriklincer rod. cuafhiow ingsprings situated betvfecn seid .sleeve und fixed zibutments provided upon :fuid upwardly extending' rod. und closure operzlt ing menus actuated bj; movement on the part of seid pitman rod.

5. ln closure operating mechanism. a trip structure including a rock sha-tt, an notent* ing portion formed with said shaft, a throw fill naa-neas member movable in unison with said shaft, an aetuatinf),- rod having its lower end connected with said throw member and entend ing; upwardly theretronn a counterbalancing weight provided upon said roclt shaft, a vertically movable pi'tman rod, a resilient connection between said upwardly extending rod and said pitman rod, and closure open ating means movable in unison with said pitman rod.

G, lin closure operating inechenism, a roclt shalt having; an actuating portion, a throw member provided in conjunction with said rocl'r sl'iatt, an upwardly extending` rod connectod 'with said throw member, a vertically nim/able pitinan rod, a resilient conncction between said rods, resili t means capable ot maintaining the actuan portion ot said roel: .shalt in a normal. upright position, and means operativo by movement oil' said pitnian rod to open` or close movable closure members. i i

Y. ln closure operating mechanism, a roclr. shalt including a relatively enlarged actuating; portion, a crank rotatable with said shalt and vertically entending rod connected with said cranl, a movable closure operatinp,0 rod, a yieldable connection between said rods operatine` to permit et limited independent movement on the part et Said first named `rod betere said rods operate in unison, and

means 'ier loclrinpr said closure operating rod in active or inactive positions. l

il. ln closure operating,` mechanism, a trip structure includiinf;` a roclr shalt, a cranlr movable with said roel;r siait, a vertically movable rod, linlt connected. `with said cranlr and having a yieldable connection with said rod, a closure operating' shalt, a cranlr provided upon said shalt, and lingers projecting troni the lower end et said rod and cooperative with said last named cranli ct oscillation on the part et the closure wlien said roclr shalt is oscillarted. lu cl sure operating mech ism, a roclt having a eraul: 'termed tln-irewith, substantially rei-ti 'al movable rod, a linlt connected wit, said cranlr, a resilient connection lietweei'i said linlt and said rod, a clot-nireV operating` shalt, a. cranlt provided upon said closure operating sha-lt, relatively adjustable lingers provided upon the lower end et said rod and cooperative with said cranlr to et :toet the operation ot said closure shalt when said roch shaft is oscillated, and a counterbalancing weight carried by said roel; shalt.,

l0. lin closure operating; mechanism, a trip structure including a roch shalt having an enlarged actuating extremity, means operative to normally maintain the actuating1 end ot said shatt in a substantially upright position, a vertically movable rod, a resilient connection between said shat't and said rod, whereby the latter will be vertically recipro cated upon the oscillation oi" said shalt, a p

closure operating shaft, a connection between said latter shalt and said rod whereby said closure shalt will be oscillated upon vertical movement on the part et said rod, and `leans cooperative with said rod lor main taining; said connection in operative or inope 'ative positions.

ll.. ln closure operating' mechanism, a pair of hinged doors, vertically disposed .shafts journaled contiguous to the hinged edges ot said doors, crank arms carried by said shafts and` cooperative with the outer edges Ot said doors to open or close the latter upon movement on the part ot said shafts, relatively angularly disposed cranlis carried by said sha-lits, a centrally pivoted lever, linlrs between said cranks and the opposite sides of the pivotal mounting` ot said lever, a c0unterbalancing; weight carried by said lever., and an automatically operated trip structure tor effecting the oscillation o'l at least one ot said shafts.

l2. ln closure operating mechanism, a pair ol hinged doors, vertically disposed shatts journaled contiguous to the hinged edges ci' said doors, cranh arms carried by said shafts and extending in parallel relation with said doors, brackets carried by said doors and disposed to receive the outer ends ot said arms, loolting' devices carried by said doors and cooperative with said arms whereby upon the initial movement oi" the latter said devices will be operated to eilect the release oit said doors, angularly extending cranks connected with said shafts, a centrally pivoted lever arranged above said doors, linlrs oonnecting1 said cranlis with opposite sides ot the pivotal mounting; ot said lever, a counterbalancing weight carried by said lever, and an automatically operated. trip structure tor eil'ectinp; the oscillation ot at aast one oil said shatts.

lin closure operating mechanism, a trip structure including a roch shalt, a closure operating` shalt journaled to entend substantially at right angles to said roch shalt, a yieldable connection between said shafts, whereby the closur shalt will be oscillated upon movement on the part of the roelt shalt, a cranlr arin carried by one end ot Said closure shalt, a closure structure, and a con nection between said crank arm and said closure structure tor ellecting the operation oit the latter upon movement on the part ot the closure shaft.

l'n testimony whereof ll ailin my signature. 

